Exercise Training

Importance of Exercise

A reduction in exercise tolerance is one of the main complaints of people with chronic lung disease.

Systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials have consistently shown that an improvement in exercise tolerance is one of the main benefits that can be obtained after a pulmonary rehabilitation program is completed by patients  with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, lung cancer and pulmonary hypertension.

An exercise training program requires an individual prescription in terms of:

• Intensity
• Duration
• Frequency
• Type (interval or continuous)
• Mode (e.g. walking, cycling, arm exercise)
• Progression

The prescription for each patient  should be based on their results from tests of exercise capacity and strength.